Stories of Ministry

Grace Assembles Kits, Kits, and More Kits

Sep 30, 2024 |
Members of all ages joined together and enjoyed assembling the kits, all while enjoying a hot dog lunch and desserts.

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A Mighty Fortress & Hearts to Hands

Sep 30, 2024 |
Parishioners filled 50 gallon-sized bags with personal hygiene items for a local nonprofit.

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Mt. Hebron Blesses Neighbors

Sep 30, 2024 |
It was a great day of working and fellowshipping together as a body of Christ.

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Small Congregations Serve in Big Ways

Sep 30, 2024 |
Low's, Coble's, LEAF, Our Father, St. Paul's, assemble cleaning buckets for LDR Carolinas.

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Community in Christ Packs Clean Up Kits

Sep 30, 2024 |
It’s not much, but we hope it will help.

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Reconciliation Donates Food & Supplies

Sep 30, 2024 |
LCOR raised over 850 lbs of food and supplies to be donated to their local food pantry, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard.

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Lord of Life Rises Against Hunger

Sep 30, 2024 |
Lord of Life, Garner, and Christ the King, Cary, teamed up to pack meals...for the “Rise Against Hunger” program.

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Amazing Grace Comes Through for Kids

Sep 29, 2024 |
We may be small, but we can come through when a need arises!

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St. John’s: Blessing & Blessed

Sep 29, 2024 |
We may have gone to bless them, but they sure blessed us!

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Holy Comforter’s Compassionate Action

Sep 29, 2024 |
Holy Comforter, Belmont, came together to support unhoused individuals through meaningful service and compassionate action.

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Christus Victor Paints Benches

Sep 29, 2024 |
It was a pleasure to have this cheerful group help beautify Parkwood again!

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Our Savior Cares for Critters

Sep 29, 2024 |
Our work helped protect critters in the river and ocean from litter that could have run off into the water.

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Holy Trinity Packs for School

Sep 29, 2024 |
Let’s keep the spirit of service alive every day!

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Wittenberg Feeds First Responders

Sep 28, 2024 |
Located right across the street from the church, Granite Quarry's Fire, Police, and EMTs are our literal neighbors.

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Grace, Groceries, & North Raleigh Ministries

Sep 28, 2024 |
Grace, Raleigh, sent 40 folks and 160 bags of groceries over to North Raleigh Ministries...

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This Is Holy Ground

Sep 16, 2024 |
What’s truly remarkable is that once we get past the novelty of the differences, we start to see just how much we have in common.

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Quilted Together: A Labor of Love

Sep 15, 2024 |
'Everybody just gasped,' says Matkins.... 'My parents were just floored. It was a total surprise.'

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We Got Out the Vote!

Sep 2, 2024 |
Volunteers from Advent, Charlotte held a nonpartisan Get Out the Vote Registration Drive.

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A Story of Partnerships

Aug 22, 2024 |
Many pieces came together to bring a heartwarming ending to this disaster.

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Gifts of The Gathering

Aug 19, 2024 |
Exhilarating, amazing, absolutely wonderful, delightful

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Preparing for Relationship in PNG

Jul 15, 2024 |
...to be in relationship with folks whose day-to-day existence looks so different from my own.... It reminds me how big God is.

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The Cross in My Pocket

Jul 15, 2024 |
Its bent or twisted arms represent not only the agony of Jesus but the distress of the person holding it.

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For Generations; for the Generations

Jun 17, 2024 |
Camp wraps us in God’s creative handiwork...energizes technology-weary souls...invites us to let down our guard and our egos and pick up new friendships while trying new things.

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Three Congregations In the One Spirit

May 20, 2024 |
Tyler hopes his youth get the same feeling—that they are not alone in their faith.

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Forgive Us Our Debts

May 7, 2024 |
We presented Undue Medical Debt with a check totaling $17,346.65, therefore relieving over $1.7 million dollars in medical debt for our neighbors.

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Church Together—In NC & at the Border

Apr 15, 2024 |
Angel Owens recalls her trip to the border which fostered a 'deepened commitment to vocation and love for neighbor.'

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The Work of Welcome behind Barbed Wire

Apr 1, 2024 |
Finding Resurrection in the Long, Lonely Holy Week

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This Holy Work Is Mission-Critical

Mar 18, 2024 |
The whole church is reminded by the example of our youth that the God who invites us into the full life of Christ gives us the opportunity to share that life with others—with all y'all!

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Together, We Welcome

Feb 19, 2024 |
Your support and collaboration with partners is helping Good Shepherd, Raleigh, walk alongside a refugee family.

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Surprising Support, Faithful Following

Jan 22, 2024 |
[The NC Synod's support] solidifies for me that this is where God wants me to be. I feel it all the time.

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Calvary Gives Christmas Gifts

Jan 8, 2024 |
Don't know what we would do without you!!!!!

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The Joys of God’s Family

Dec 4, 2023 |
Jovita’s demonstrated and consistent faith throughout her time as a student has been an inspiration to me.

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Moments Like These

Dec 4, 2023 |
Hey, Pastor Mark, could we have worship tonight?

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Packing Backpacks for Fresh Change

Nov 20, 2023 |
We were blessed by the grant and hope that our work can be a blessing to others.

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Be Prepared to Care

Nov 20, 2023 |
The members of Christ the King Lutheran Church were equipped to respond, bringing help and hope to the community.

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The Lutheran Church Is Thriving!

Oct 16, 2023 |
The Holy Spirit still has work for us to do.

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A Rather Unique Agreement

Sep 18, 2023 |
Every church member agreed!

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Witnessing Love in Neighbors

Sep 18, 2023 |
It was so humbling to get to love on these folks who have been hurt by the church.

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Open to God’s Calling

Aug 21, 2023 |
There are times when I don’t feel equipped to do this work, but I remain open to God’s calling, listening to His voice and praying for direction in everything.

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Being the Church in the Borderlands

Jul 13, 2023 |
The Rocky Mountain Synod made a deliberate choice to gather around something more—to humanize and complicate the issue.

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The eHarmony of Prison Reentry

Jul 13, 2023 |
What started as a prison ministry from an ELCA congregation in Chicago will soon be operating in 3 states, with 6,400 returning citizens...

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3000 Dresses

Jul 3, 2023 |
Hazel uses the gift of sewing that God had given her in God's call to her as a disciple.

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Core Values in a Congregation

Jun 27, 2023 |
Their purpose statement drives the way that they are in relationship with each other and the way that Christ is proclaimed.

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Someone Was on the Other End

May 15, 2023 |
I remember Bishop Tim noting that 'synod' literally means ‘doing life together,’ and boy did that prove true!

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Fresh Change at St. Mark’s

May 15, 2023 |
A fresh change...makes you feel capable of meeting whatever the day will bring.

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Holy Trinity Dedicates New Space

May 15, 2023 |
All can safely enter the church using ADA entryways—four of them!

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Cedar Grove Offers Holy Week Live

May 1, 2023 |
These drive-through stories of Jesus are a ministry to the community—free and open to all.

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A Better Sense of the Larger Church

Apr 16, 2023 |
Once you are able to balance your own self...you will find your relationship building with God.

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Hearts Were Changed

Apr 16, 2023 |
The goal was to come together with our neighbors and say 'I see you, I appreciate you;' we did that in a big way.

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Community in the Truest Sense

Apr 16, 2023 |
The greatest element was the conversations that took place between the youth and their neighbors in Knoxville.

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Trusting God, Taking a Leap of Faith

Apr 16, 2023 |
It's the normal people doing one thing at a time that can help make the world a better place.

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The Belovedness of Siblings

Apr 9, 2023 |
We walked away with a better grasp of the belovedness of these siblings in Christ.

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St. Paul’s Hosts Camp Destiny

Apr 9, 2023 |
Camp Destiny opens kids' eyes to new possibilities!

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Glocal Mission Trip to The Dwelling

Apr 3, 2023 |
We know that Every. Single. Human. is precious and loved by God.

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A Safe Sanctuary for the Community

Apr 3, 2023 |
St. Andrew, New Bern, found new possibilities with a community-focused ministry.

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Change Began with Breakfast

Mar 27, 2023 |
The Breakfast Program to me is letting the Light of God shine through us to prove that there is a better future.

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Measuring Up with Gifts of Food and Relationship

Mar 27, 2023 |
The grant allowed the children to live into St. Andrew's core values of care for members, service in the community, and respect for all people.

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Communication, Collaboration, and Desire

Mar 20, 2023 |
The congregation needs to know that there are people behind the numbers...stories behind their gifts.

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Youth Go on a Boundless Adventure

Mar 20, 2023 |
The personal and spiritual growth that occurred throughout the week was palpable in all the participants.

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Ready to Meet the Challenge!

Feb 20, 2023 |
Increasing disaster preparedness and developing a network of people, congregations, and resources.

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Brown Honored at Kimball Memorial

Feb 20, 2023 |
A lifelong Lutheran who has done so much to prosper the work of our congregation, the NC Synod, and the greater church.

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Old Beams Honor St. Paul’s History

Feb 20, 2023 |
These strong timbers now add beauty elsewhere and serve as reminders of the solid legacy of a historical NC Lutheran congregation.

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Walking Together

Feb 6, 2023 |
Walking together with this family has given us a deeper appreciation for what refugees experience when pursuing a life of stability and dignity.

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Believe in God’s Plan for Your Life

Jan 16, 2023 |
Many and varied are the paths that bring candidates to the rostered ministry of this church.

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God’s Call to the Next New Thing

Dec 19, 2022 |
God is up to something new in Charlotte these days.

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Refreshed and Ready

Nov 14, 2022 |
Pastor Adrienne is refreshed and ready for the challenge and her enthusiasm is the best kind of contagious.

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New Land, New Life

Nov 13, 2022 |
Open hearts have always been in full supply at Greensboro’s Lutheran Church of Our Father.

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A Place Apart to Grieve and Hope Together

Oct 17, 2022 |
There is room for mystery, there is hope in the unfolding, and we are held and beloved

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A Lasting Impact

Oct 13, 2022 |
That's where we first lived when my family and I came to America!

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Freedom to Explore Faith

Sep 19, 2022 |
They get to explore their faith instead of being fed answers.

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Planning for a Miracle

Sep 5, 2022 |
...we trusted that the Spirit would find ways for us to serve...

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Called to Prayer—Prayerfully Called

Aug 15, 2022 |
It takes time, conversations, and quiet moments on the sofa with the dog, all of which are prayer.

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Cycle of Welcome

Aug 15, 2022 |
Pastor Jonathan Schnibben of Good Shepherd, Mt. Holly, rides his bike to raise money and awareness.

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Lovin’ Summer Camp!

Jul 18, 2022 |
Our kids came away from a week of camp with a feeling of joyful belonging, a slew of fun stories, and a deeper experience of the faith.

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Seeing Our Neighbors Anew

Jul 17, 2022 |
The focus of the VBS on welcoming the stranger definitely spoke to me.

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CTK Welcomes the Stranger

Jul 4, 2022 |
Christ the King, Cary, has been “Welcoming the Stranger” for almost 50 years.

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Just What We Needed

Jun 6, 2022 |
A story of blessings from the recent Synod Gathering.

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Finding God by the Water

May 16, 2022 |
It allows us to experience God in a new way.

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Earth Day at Christ the King

May 2, 2022 |
Earth Day 2022 takes on a special meaning at Christ the King, Cary!

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Prince of Peace Celebrates 50 Years

May 2, 2022 |
Prince of Peace, Greensboro, celebrated their 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee April 30 and May 1!

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Our Neighbor’s Plate—More Than a Meal

Apr 25, 2022 |
Hunger is not only a lack of food but a deeper desire to be seen as a neighbor and to be known by name.

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Equipment Upgrade Expands Reach

Apr 18, 2022 |
These have been trying times as everyone knows but this boost helped us expand our reach and stay relevant.

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A Prayer Lifeline to Leaders

Apr 18, 2022 |
For a lot of her people, Pastor Brenda Smith has been a lifeline.

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Outreach Ministry Expanded

Apr 8, 2022 |
We were so thankful when we received our Michael Peeler Virginia Casey Grant. God had a plan for us to safely help feed, clothe, and have prayer with our community."

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Opening Classrooms and Hearts

Mar 14, 2022 |
Well, I know that God can do anything, but God decided to work through the Peeler/Casey Grant.

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SAMs, Lay Preachers Gather for Learning

Mar 14, 2022 |
SAM and lay preaching candidates are lay leaders raised up in their home congregations to fill an unmet need in congregations.

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Community Concert Celebrations!

Mar 5, 2022 |
St. Andrew, New Bern, celebrates their gratitude with concerts.

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Mt. Hermon Little Pantry

Mar 3, 2022 |
"Our Youth are Amazing"

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Serving Christ & Country

Feb 14, 2022 |
Ultimately, I think God has put me here to help save lives and to shine the light of Christ.

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Christmas in Kentucky

Jan 16, 2022 |
'We now know what Santa must feel like,' LSC Disaster Services Team Director Paul Dunn said.

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2021 LWR Ingathering Success!

Dec 6, 2021 |
For 2021, there were over 21,000 pounds of kits and quilts taken to Lutheran World Relief!

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Tangible Signs of Intangible Grief

Nov 15, 2021 |
The orange cloth is a tangible thing that opens opportunities for discussion about intangible grief.

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Freedom Fridge: Finding Power Together

Oct 18, 2021 |
One answer to prayer came when community partners asked us to host Greensboro’s first Freedom Fridge, a free public refrigerator and pantry stocked and maintained by the community.

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St. John’s Volunteers Go to School

Oct 18, 2021 |
Fifty-five volunteers from St. John’s, Salisbury participated in the "God’s Work. Our Hands." project at Isenberg Elementary on Oct. 10.

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God’s Work. Our Hands. 2021

Oct 7, 2021 |
The blessings of this service across the synod are far-reaching!

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A Collaboration of Love

Sep 20, 2021 |
It's a blessing to share a chance to be creative through art with communities that have such loving and compassionate hearts.

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Helping Leaders Lead

Aug 16, 2021 |
It was strengthening to hear others share similar issues in their leadership. I did not feel so alone in trying to navigate such challenging times.

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Making Camp Happen

Jul 19, 2021 |
There’s no doubt that campers are having the same quality experience as they would any other summer.

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worship band

Churches Born from Collaboration

Jun 14, 2021 |
I have to give credit to North Carolina Lutherans for sparking my thinking about collaboration more than 15 years ago.

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St. Andrew Celebrates New Space

May 29, 2021 |
The sanctuary of St. Andrew, New Bern, suffered major damage from the multi-day pounding of Hurricane Florence in September 2018. Now they celebrate new space.

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Sharing Worship: Church Together

May 17, 2021 |
For us, it’s really important for us to be church together in this.

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3 generations of conrads

Three Generations Preaching

May 3, 2021 |
Sunday, April 25, was a red-letter day for the Conrad family—and for the NC Synod!

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Listening for the Unsaid

Apr 26, 2021 |
...we get referrals for patients who say they don’t believe in God at all, but they want to talk to a chaplain.

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Partnering for Hunger and Health

Mar 15, 2021 |
We’ve been working on our fresh food initiative for several years, and that’s what we received a Domestic Hunger Grant for.

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bluet moss path_Camp Agape

Conversation with Our Camps

Feb 15, 2021 |
Hear about challenges, partnership, and hope with Deacon Randy Youngquist-Thurow and Deacon Mitzie Schafer.

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Advent’s Little Free Pantry

Feb 15, 2021 |
There are so many people who are food insecure. It’s just crazy.

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A Hub of Abundance

Jan 18, 2021 |
I told the kids that the Parktown Food Hub is the South Durham branch of Santa’s workshop.

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family with elf hats

#NCSynodKidsChristmasCampout

Dec 14, 2020 |
The most challenging part about being a parent during the pandemic is trying to making sure our kids are ok when the whole world is clearly not.

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Cross and Crown’s Pandemic Perseverance

Dec 14, 2020 |
Cross and Crown, Matthews, are supporters of C.O.S.Kids, a non-profit Christian ministry supporting low-income, single-parent families.

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altar with row of lit candles

A Communion of Saints

Nov 16, 2020 |
Synod staff recognized that particularly in this season of COVID-19, nurturing leaders includes helping them to grieve.

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Lincolnton  Little  Library

Oct 19, 2020 |
Salem, Lincolnton, came together to do 'God’s Work' with 'Our Hands' by creating a little library.

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Life Together, Reimagined

Oct 19, 2020 |
What we’ve been lifting up in this time of COVID is that we are still called, that has not changed.

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Operation Mask Mission

Sep 14, 2020 |
How do 100,000 masks get into the hands of NC Synod congregations?

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Solidarity Beyond the Walls

Aug 17, 2020 |
This is about transforming the world through building new social relationships.

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Born from the pandemic—something new!

Jul 20, 2020 |
The churches in the synod's Silver Valley Conference are working collaboratively, sharing the ministry of “The Vine,” and becoming stronger together.

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Finding new ways

Jun 15, 2020 |
It is true that we cannot go to the building and worship corporately...(b)ut we can certainly worship as the church together, apart.

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From Daily Bread to Abundant Thanks

May 18, 2020 |
People are often overwhelmed with thanks, tears in their eyes, and joy in their hearts as we bring an abundance of food to them.

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The Church is the People!

Apr 29, 2020 |
…we are the church together…the church is not a building…the church is the people!

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God is in the Room

Mar 16, 2020 |
For me, being in the youth band and leading worship helped me feel closer to God than I’ve ever felt. It makes me feel like God is in the room.

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A time for the Gospel in action

Feb 17, 2020 |
If there was ever a time for the Gospel in action, this is it.

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“I believe that I am a better pastor…”

Jan 20, 2020 |
Pastors Mary and Tim Canniff-Kuhn concluded their final summer as program directors at Lutheridge in 2019.

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